Stemming machine



March 31, 1931. J. F. DIRZUWEIT STEMMING MACHINE Filed April 9. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet I'NVENTOR BY a4 Qflm alu A TTORNEY March 31, 1931. J. F. mnzuwzn' 1,798,404

STEMMING MACHINE Filed April 9. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGJZ INVENTOR BY W 401/ ATTORNEY March 31, 1931. J mzuwgrr 1,798,464

STEWING MACHINE Filed April 9, was 5 Sheets-sheet :5

INVENTOR m ZAEW may March 31, 1931. J. F. DIRZUWEIT STEMMING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.

IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY March 31, 1931.. J. F. DIRZUWEIT 1,798,404

STEMMING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1926 '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN F. DIRzUwEI'r, or BALTI vIQItE countr MARYLAND, ASSiGNOR T LAWRENCE LEE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA STEMMING MACHINE Application filed April' 9, 1926;. Serial No. 100,932.

The object of my invention is to. stem leaves, particularly tobacco leaves, in an improved manner and, by improved means, whereby the lamina is completely or thoroughly separated from its stem, or stalk, without macerating the same.

I am aware that many attempts. have been made to construct machinery for stemming leaves, especially tobacco leaves, many attempts have been made to. pull the stem, from the leaf, thereby tearing the leaf, perforat ing it and causing other mutilations; and of other attempts that have been made to slice the stem away from the, lamina, with the result that the. lamina. and stem become comingled with a loose slicing of one or the other depending upon the travel of the leaf through the machine.

A further object of my invention is the providing in a stripping machine an improved means of feeding the leaf tov the stripping mechanism.

A further object of my invention is the providing in an organized stripping machine improved stripping members.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,- my invention consists of the methods employed,- combination and arrangements of: systems, apparatus and means as hereinafter specifically provided and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resortedto which come within the scope of the claimshereunto appended.

In the drawings of the herein-described embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a side view in elevation, partly in section, of my improved stemming machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view in elevation taken through 3.-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a sectional view in elevation, taken through l st of Fig, 2,

looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig.

5 is a plan view of the feeding mechanism;-

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view the gripping mechanism shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an en- In end i i-l' i Q i eir filil through 7'Z of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing a detail of the feeding mechanism; Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows marked 88 in Fig. 1 at the end of the feeding mechanism; Fig. 9 is an enlarged view in elevation of the stripping mechanism detached from the assembled inachine; Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in elevation, especially showing the prei erred form wherein the cutter teeth are saw-like,

or serrated; Fig. 11 is a view in elevation taken at right angles to. that shown in Fig. 10 of the same elements Fig. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the cutters; Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are views of the stripping elements in operation, and Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of the cutters, gripping belts and presser when in normal position, taken in elevation, the cutters being shown diagonal, spiral, but of a modified kind wherein the edges are smooth and not serrated or saw-like.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 is the feed table. 2 is the feed belt, which carries gripper 3 by means of a hinged supporting member 4, which is hinged horizontally to feed belt 2 and to which gripper 3 is fulcrumed and normally held in contact therewith by means of spring 5. 3 is provided with pins 6 to ei'igage lent springs 7 and 8, which pins assist in relieving the pressure against the stem as it is being pushed from beneath leaf springs 7 and 8.

9 is the leaf spring carrier adjnstably mounted on cover table 10. Cover table 10 is subsantially a continuation of feed table 1 on the inside of feed belt 2. Gripper opcrates in its vertical position betwcensaid feed table 1 and cover table 10 in what might be considered a groove, or slot.

Feed table 1 adjacent to the feed belt 2 at its entering edge has its point 11 bent" down to form ail-incline, or cam, to throw gripper 3 into a vertical position to enter the slot or space between feed table 1 and cover table 10,

and thereby being in a position tograsp a stem laying across said slot.

12 is athrow-down cam, attached to cover able 1 by m n of elt guid 13-. 1 After Gripper gripper 3 leaves feed table 1 with a stem in its grip, the leaf being horizontal falls down thereby tending to throw gripper 3 over into a horizontal position, allowing the leaf to hang vertical; this is positively assured by the throw-down cam 12.

The amount of stem protrudino above gripper 3 determined by guide 9 which, as stated above, may be adjusted on cover table 10.

14 and 15 are gripping belts between which the stem is gripped and taken from the feeding belt, or gripper thereon, 3 and conveyed to the gri ppingmechanism. These belts atthe feeding end operate on a double-faced pulley 16 provided with a groove or recessed portion 17 between the faces. This pulley permits the belts to operate in a separated position, so that the stem may enter between them and protrude in said groove and guided by guides '18 and 19 which assist in positively directing the stem liietween the belts.

The leaf, with its attached stem, a l'ter being gripped by gripper 3 and falling oil the feed table 1, hangs down being held by gripper 3. It is desirable that stem or leaf be inclined when gripped by the gripper belts 14 and 15. To accomplish this, roller 20 is provided, over which the leaf is dragged, thus inclining the stem at the time that the gripper belts take hold.

Gripping belts 14 and 15, after the stem is positioned between them by the feeding belt and gripper 3, are closed together with a resilient closing means, consisting of guiding pulleys 21 and 22 mounted on links and 24, which links are fulcrumed to carrier 25. On the free end of links 23 and 24 are pins over which springs 26 and 26 operate which tends to draw said links together thereby pressing gripping belts 14 and 15 together, or against the stem that may be between them: this pressing action is, however, limited by stops 27 in carrier limiting the movement of links 23 and 24, thus permitting a slipping in the grabbingof the stem from the gripper 3, gripping belts 14 and 15 travel faster than feeding belt 2, therefore, run away with the stem.

28 is a guide plate, placed at about the angle that it is desired to have the leaf enter the stripping mechanism, and is out awa y at its upper end to permit the stripped lamina to fall. At about the end of this guide plate are located gripping rollers 29 and 30, which are mounted on bellcranks 31 and 32, which bell cranks are fulcrumed on housing 33, pins 34 and 35 being provided on said housing to which springs 36 and 37 may be secured, said springs operating on the free ends of bell-cranks 31 and 32, thereby pressing the gripping belts 14 and 15 on a stem that may be between them. number of gripping rollers similarly mounted operating on the gripper belts after the Similarly, there are 2."

same passes the gripping mechanism beyond all of which is separating member 38 which separates the gripping belts 14 and 15, thus allowing the stem to be released therefrom, and scrapes said belts.

The gripping belts, after being separated, operate over double pulley 39 provided with a spacing flange 40.

41 is a tightening pulley carried by link 42 and operates on gripping belts 14 and 15 tending to keep the same taut, said belts being driven by one of the pulleys over which they operate, in the drawing pulley 39, which pulley is driven from counter shaft 43 by a belt on pulley 44. Counter shaft 43 is driven by an electric motor 45.

The st1'i )ping mechanism is located direct- 1y under gripping belts 14 and 15, and in the drawing is shown between the first and second set of gripping rollers.

46 and 47 are a pair of circular cutters, or strippers, of thickness suitable for the size of the stem of the leaf operated upon, thicker cutters for larger stems when required. These cutters are preferably provided with angularly inclined and spiral teeth, the inclination of which forms a space between the said pair of cutters and the presser member or disc 48 to permit the stem to pass unmutilated, thus the different size of cutters to accommodate the average size of leaf operated upon. The diagonal and spiral structure of the teeth tends to throw the leaf or stem down and to clear themselves. I have found that by making the edges of the teeth saw teeth a clean stripping of the stem is accomplished.

Cutters 46 and 47 are secured to spacing discs 49 and 50 respectively, these discs are smooth and prevent the cutters from cut/tin the stem as the same is carried between the cutters by the gripping belts; these discs form a riding surface for the gripping belts to slide over.

Cutters 46 and 47, and their attached discs 49 and 50, are mounted upon and driven by shafts 51 and 52, which shafts are carried by and operate in bearings 53 and 54, which bearings are fulcrmned near their upper ends to bridge 55 by journals 56 and 57 and are held in place by clamping dog 58 and screw 59 and adjusted by screws 60 and 61.

Shafts 51 and 52 mutually operate by spherical gears 62 and 63 and are driven by spring belt 64 by means of pulley 65.

Bearings 53 and 54 are normally held against stops 66 and are permitted to mutual ly adjust themselves away from said stops to permit the gripping belts 14 and 15 to separate when a stem is between them, said belts operating over loose rollers 67 and 68 on shafts 51 and 52.

On shaft 69 and operated thereby are rotary brushes 70 and 71, operating under cutters 46 and 47 and preferably just touching 1 meaaoa by the arrows in the drawing, and contacts with and cleans brushes and 71.

73 is a wire brush normally contacting with" gripping belts 1 i and 15, the surface of which brush operates in the opposite direction of the travel of said belts. This brush is for the purpose of scrubbing the stems after stripping to secure any fragments of lamina l'eftthereon.

In the operation of my invention, the tobacco is brought to that state of moisture known as conditioning in the tobacco trade, that is, to such a damp condition that it may be easily and conveniently handled and worked before being brought to the machine for stripping.

The time element between the time of opening the bundles of conditioned tobacco and actual stripping is almost negligible when the stripping force is properly organized and the machine is working to speed which strips the tobacco almost as fast as the samecan be fed to the machine.

The tobacco is laid horizontally on the feed and cover tables in a position deteriniiie'd by-the guide and leaf springs, where it is gripped by the gripper.

The stripped lamina is brushed and thrown back under the machine on to conveying means or receptacles not shown.

The stem is conveyed to the far end of the machine and released by the gripping belts dropping it on to conveyers or receptacles not shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patgripper to said belt.

2. In an organized stripping machine a feeding mechanism comprising I a horizontally operating feed belt ad acent to said feed table, a gripper operated by said feed belt. a cover table adjacent to said feed table and between two tables said gripper-works,- and means on said feed table and cover table to 's'i'tion leaves placed thereon :beioreternggripped by the gripper.

The sura feed table,-

3. In an organized stripping machine a feeding mechanism comprising afeed table, a horizontally operating. feed belt adjacent to said feed table, a gripper operated by said feed belt, a cover tableadjacent to said feed table and between ,which two tables said gripper works, and adjustablemeans on said feed table and cover table to position leaves placed thereon before being gripped bythe gripper.

4. In an organized stripping machine a feeding mechanism comprising a feed table, a horizontally operating feed belt adjacent to said feed table, a gripper operated by said feed belt, a cover table adjacent to said feed table and between which two tables said gripper works, and means-on said feed table and cover table to position leaves placed thereon before being grippedby the gripper, consisting of an end gauge and leaf springs.

In a leaf stemming machine av rotary presser, a pair of rotating cutters having angularly disposed saw-teeth cutting edges, one of said cutters being on either side of the rotating presser, said cutters operating in V opposite directions and the peripheries travelling against the movement of the leaf being fed, said presserop'erating between the cutting edges of the cutter to form a triangular opening through wh'ich a leaf may be drawn for stripping.

6. In a leaf stemming machine, a rotary presser member, a pair of rotating cutters having augularly disposed cutting. teeth. there being: a cutter at either side of the rotating presser, said cutters rotating in opposite directions and against the movement of the leaf being fed, the rotary presser member also operating against the movement of the leaf being fed. 7

7. In a leaf stemming machine, a rotary presser member rotating in a direction opposite to the movement of the leaf to be cut,

cutting mechanism having angula-rly disposed teeth and extending overthe presser member and to either side thereof, the teeth of said cutting mechanism and the presser member forming an angular opening through which the leaf is drawn and means for grasping and drawing the stem of the leaf through said angular opening the operative face of said-presser member being parallel. to its axis of rotation.

8. In a leaf stemming machine, a pair of rotating cutters having angularly disposed cutting teeth, a presser member arranged below and substantially closing the opening between the cutter teeth, rotating brushes on either side of said presser member and means for grasping and drawing a leaf over the brushes and presser member. a

i 9. In a leaf stemming machine, a pairof rotati cutters having angularly disposed teeth, a rotary presser cisc centrally arranged between the-cutters and-rotating at right angles to the cutters and the periphery of which operates in the opposite direction from that of the leaf being fed and at the same peripheral speed as the cutters, rotary brushes arranged on opposite sides of the presser disc and means for drawing a leaf over the brushes and disc and against the cutters.

10. In a leaf stemming machine, a pair of rotating cutters having angular-1y disposed teeth, a rotary presser member centrally arranged between the cutters and rotating at right angles to the cutters and the periphery of which operates in the opposite direction from that of the leaf being fed and at the same peripheral speed as the cutters, and a plurality of brushes rotating at the same speed as the presser member, one of said brushes in contact with the edge of the presser member and means for drawing a leaf between the cutters over the presser member and the brushes.

11. In a leaf stemming machine, a pair of rotary cutters mounted to oscillate in the same plane, toward and away from each other, means for driving said cutters in opposite directions, angularly disposed spiral teeth on said cutters, a presser disc centrally located below the teeth of the adjacent cutters, means for rotating said presser disc in a direction so that its periphery shall travel in an opposite direction to that of the leaf being fed and a series of brushes operatively arranged with reference to the presser disc and to serve to wipe against the leaf as it passes over the disc and to wipe the operating face of the presser disc.

12. In a leaf stemming machine, a pair of rotating cutters mounted to oscillate in the same plane, toward and away from each other, means for driving said cutters in opposite directions, angularly disposed spiral teeth on said cutters, a presser disc centrally located below the teeth of the adjacent cutters, means for rotating said presser disc at a uniform peripheral speed and a series of rotating brushes operatively arranged with reference to the presser disc and to serve to wipe against the leaf as it passes over the disc and to wipe the operating face of the presser disc, means for driving said brushes in the same direction.

13. In a leaf stemming machine, a pair of rotating cutters, a rotating presser operatively arranged with reference to the cutters, conveyor bands passing between said cutters for drawing a leaf through the cutting mechanism and a guide plate in advance of the cutters and disc for protecting the leaf in its advance to the cutters.

14. In a leaf stemming machine, a cutter mechanism, means for drawing a leaf through the cutter mechanism, a pressing means for holding said leaf in engagement with the cutting mechanism as it is drawn past the cutters, brushes operatively arranged to engage the leaf and remove the cut off portion of the leaf and a guide overlying the brushes and in advance of the cutters for directing the leaf to the cutter mechanism.

15. A tobacco leaf stripping machine comprising parallel spindles rotating in opposite directions each carrying in the same plane a disk provided peripherally with stripping teeth, each spindle also carrying a roller adapted to guide a feed belt, a feed belt carried by each roller the belts being adapted to grip a leaf stem between them, and a third disc mounted to rotate on an axis perpendicular to the axes of the parallel spindles and having its edge midway between said spindles in position to engage the leaf carried by the belts.

16. A tobacco leaf stripping machine comprising parallel spindles rotating in opposite directions each carrying in the same plane a disc provided peripherally with stripping teeth, each spindle also carrying a roller adapted to guide a feed belt, a feed belt carried by each roller the belts being adapted to grip a leaf stem between them, a third disc mounted to rotate on an axis perpendicular to the axes of the parallel spindles and having its edge midway between said spindles in position to engage the leaf carried by the belts, and means for so rotating the third disc as to cause the portion of its edge adjacent to the belts to move in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the belts.

17. A tobacco leaf stripping machine comprising parallel spindles rotating in opposite directions each carrying in the same plane a disk provided peripherally with stripping teeth, each spindle also carrying a. roller adapted to guide a feed belt, a feed belt carried by each roller the belts being adapted to grip a leaf stem between them, a third disk mounted to rotate on an axis perpendicular to the axes of the spindles and having its edge midway between the spindles in position to engage the leaf carried by the belts, means for so rotating the third disc as to cause the portion of its edge adjacent to the belts to move in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the belts, and cylindrical brushes one on each side of the third disc and rotating therewith.

18. A tobacco leaf stripping machine con1- prising hvo adjacent strippers mounted in the same plane and rotating in opposite directions, a disc mounted to rotate in a plane perpendicular to that of the two strippers, a pair of belts moving over the two strippers in the opposite direction of rotation of said strippers, a pair of rollers guiding the belts cen trally above the third disc, said third disc rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the belts.

19. A tobacco leaf stripping machine comprising two adjacent strippers mounted in the same plane and rotating in opposite directions, a disc mounted to rotate in a plane perpendicular to that of the two strippers, a pair of belts moving over the two strippers in the opposite direction of rotation of said strippers, a pair of rollers guiding the beltscentrally above the third disc, said third disc rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the belts, and means for preventing displacement of the belts relative to each other.

20. A tobacco leaf stripping machine comprising two adjacent strippers mounted in the same plane and rotating in opposite directions, a disc mounted to rotate in a plane perpendicular to that of the two strippers, a pair of belts moving over the two strippers in the opposite direction of rotation of said strippers, a pair of rollers guiding the belts centrally above the third disc, said third disc rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the belts, and means for causing the belts to move directly above the tWo adjacent strippers in a plane parallel with that of said strippers.

JOHN F. DIR-ZUWEIT. 

